Voice over IP

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) allows users to make
phone calls by using the Internet rather than using the traditional public
switched telephone network (PSTN).Internet
telephone calls are converted from an analog voice signal to digital format and
then compression/translation of the signal into Internet protocol (IP) packets
for transmission over the Internet, with the process being reversed at the
receiving end.This technology was
introduced by Vocaltec Inc in February 1995 when it introduced Internet Phone
software.According to the IEC, the minimum system
requirements to run the initial program was a 486/33-MHz (or higher) personal
computer (PC) equipped with a sound card, speakers, microphone, and modem.

This original software would only work if both parties are
using Internet Phone software, which would occupy internet bandwidth.Thanks to
major companies like Vonage, Ooma, and MagicJack, VoIP users can now call
land line phones and even cell phones in other countries for a fixed monthly or annual
fee.This breaks from the norm of land line
companies charging by the minute with varying rates for different
countries.Although this technology has great advantages, it has also
received its fair share of criticism.

Mainly competing companies such as AT&T, who offer traditional public
switched telephone network long distance (PSTN) calling.They brought up issues of loss of service during
power failures, internet malfunctions, and PC problems as their largest
disadvantages.They claimed that these
issues contributed to some people dying, due to issues with contacting 911 in
emergencies.However the majority of the
people using VoIP were using it primarily for long distance calling, and either
had cell phones or traditional land line phones to call 911.